Method and apparatus for combined lasting of the toe, ball and shank areas of shoes

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for lasting shoes by applying a cement strip around the toe end of a shoe bottom, folding and attaching limited upper margin areas to the shoe bottom near the ends of said strip at the ball area of the shoe, progressively lasting the upper heelward from said areas and lasting the shoe forepart after the progressive lasting operation has moved to noninterfering locations.

United States Patent 1191 Fichtner et a1. 7 1 Mar. 4, 1975 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR [56] References Cited COMBINED LASTING OF THE TOE, BALL UNITED STATES PATENTS AND SHANK AREAS OF SHOES 2,969,555 1/1961 Kamborian 12/145 [75] Inventors: Rudi Fichtner, Rosbach; Gerhard 3,561,028 2/1971 Bowler 12/12 Lauckhardt, 3,685,072 8/1972 Schindler et al 12/12 Frankfurt/Main-Rodelheim, both of Germ Primary E.\'aminer-Patrick D. Lawson I [73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass. g gj ggg i or Fm vmcem white; Richard [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 433,673

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 22, 1973 Germany 2303024 [52 U.S. Cl. 12/12 [51] Int. Cl A436] 21/00 [58} Field of Search 12/12, 12.4, 12.5, 8.3,

[57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for lasting shoes by applying a cement strip around the toe end of a shoe bottom, folding and attaching limited upper margin areas to the shoe bottom near the ends of said strip at the ball area of the shoe, progressively lasting the upper heelward from said areas and lasting the shoe forepart after the progressive lasting operation has moved to non-interfering locations.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures mimw 4197s 3.868.737

SHEET 1 [IF 4 PATENTED 41975 SHLU 3 OF 4 PATENTED MAR 41975 SHEET 0F 4 ll METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINED LASTING OF THE TOE, BALL AND Sll-IANIK AREAS OF SHOES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a method and a device for the combined, gapfree Toe-, Forepartand Waist Lasting of on-last footwear, whereby the combined lasting operation is carried out in one working operation.

Such combined lasting operations have hitherto been accomplished with a lasting wiper, provided for the toelasting, and with pressure-fingers arranged side-by-side for the forepartand shank lasting. In this, the difficulty arises, especially in the shank area, of adapting the pressure-fingers to the spring of the shoe, for the negotiation of which the pressure-fingers must assume at any particular time a corresponding height-position. Moreover, lasting by means of such side-by-side pressure-fingers easily leads to gaps in the cementing zone between the lasting margin and the insole. Finally, the pressure-fingers can also leave impressions on the upper which also remain visible after attachment of the outsole.

For the forepartand sha'nk lasting, use has also been made of rotating rollers having helical lands which pull the lasting margin toward the middle of the shoe. In addition, the lasting margin is pressed by the rollersurface against the insole, whereby a strip of cement that has been previously applied ensures the attachment of the lasting margin to the insole. Frequently, however, a gap or bulge is formed in the transition zone between the forepart and the shank area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The basic task of the invention is to provide a combined, gap-free lasting operation, in such a way that there is a more reliable transition from the zone of the toe-lasting to thezone of the forepartand shanklasting, without thereby making it possible for problems to arise with the spring in the shank zone.

According to the invention, a process is provided having the following stages of operation:

21. Application of a strip of cement around the'toe zone extending heelward as far as the ball-zone,

b. Folding-over and attaching the lasting margin in the inner and outer ball zone by means of a wiper executing a momentary sweep,

c. Balland shank lasting by rolling the lasting margin, using a rotating roller, against the cement-strip applied on the insole,

d. Toe-lasting by the sweep-in of a lasting wiper as far as a point beyond the beginning of the zone lasted by the roller.

In this method the already-known operating stages of toe-lasting by a contoured plate-like wiper, and ball and shank lasting by a rotating roller are logically combined by the application of the cement-strip, required for the toe-lasting, being extended into the ball zone, where, by the momentary sweep of a wiper which may be in the form of a rod on each side of the on-Iast shoe, the lasting margin can then be attached. The rotating rollers that carry out the ball and shank lasting can thus start from anattached part of the lasting margin, by which they encounter definitely established conditions for this operation, so that subsequently the lasting margin accommodates itself without difficulty to the pull and pressure'of the rollers. In addition, the necessary preparation for the process of toe-lasting is also carried out by the application of the same cement-strip in the toe zone, so that the toelasting can be carried out as soon as the rollers have left the ball zone. In this, the toe-lasting operation proceeds until it extends into the zone of the lasting carried out by the rollers, so that a gap-free lasting and cementing of the entire lasting margin is reliably achieved from about the heel breast zone all around the forepart. In order to additionally ensure the attachment effected by the wiper the rollers can commence the rolling of the lasting margin directly adjacent the heel end of the wipers.

For applying the cement-strip in the toe and ball zone, two cement nozzles may be: guided by a templet, the nozzles passing over the inner and outer ball zone respectively and meeting at the toe end of the shoe. The wipers can consist of flattened pins (flattened as against the insole) extending from driving-agents such as fluid cylinders mounted close to the side of the onlast shoe. In order to deliver the necessary cement for the lasting operation effected by the rollers, cement nozzles may also be provided for the rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan-view of an apparatus embodying the invention showing in fragmentary form a lasting wiper and a cement, nozzle for the application of a cement-strip in the toe-point and ball zone and a side wiper.

FIG. 2 is generally similar to FIG. I and shows the.

side wipers extended to attach the lasting margin.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 in a side view.

- FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the start of the lasting operation extending over the ball and shank zone, by the rotating rollers.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the rollers for the ball-and shank lasting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the forepartof a shoe is shown, with the lasting margin 2 extending up from the insole 1. In front of the toe end of the shoe a lasting wiper is shown as comprising two wiper components 3 and 4 which swing about an axis 5 in wiping movements. The two wipercomponents 3 and 4 are shown in FIG. 1 in partially closed condition just over the edge of the insole 1, whereby the lasting margin 2, in the zone of the lasting wipers 3 aiid 4, is pressed against the insole 1. In this position of the wipers 3, 4 a cement strip 8 is laid down on the insole by means of a cement nozzle 7, with the strip extending around the toe and back over the ball zone. The cement nozzle 7 may move in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. A heating element 9 may be provided for the cement nozzle 7 when thermoplastic cement is used, ensuring that the cement issues from the cement nozzle7 at a sufficiently high temperature. The cement nozzle 7 may be guided in a known way by means ofa templet so that a cement strip 8 is produced which lies around the zone of the toe and ball, close to the edge 6 of the insole. In addition, it is also possible to provide a cement nozzle for the inner and outer ball zone respectively, and these two nozzles then could meet at the toe end. In the representation chosen in FIG. I, however, the cement nozzle travels around the 3 whole toe end of the shoe, thus also passing over the inner and outer ball zone.

At the sides of the shoe generally in the plane of the insole 1, two rod-like wipers and 11 are provided which extend from motors l2 and 13. The mode of operation of these wipers 10 and 11 will be described below by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. After the applying of the cement strip 8, the wipers 10 and 11 are momentarily advanced. To this end, the motors 12 and 13 comprise pistons 14 and 15 which slide in cylinders 16 and 17 and are propelled by a pressure medium. The motors l2 and 13 are shown schmatically as secured to the frame of the machine by supports 18 and 19. By the extending of the wipers 10 and 11 the lasting margin 2 is folded over in the zone of the wipers and attached to the insole by means of the cement strip 8 so that a favorable position is provided for the subsequent start of the work of the rollers for the ball and shank lasting. In FIG. 3 the arrangement according to FIG. 2 is represented in section. As can be seen,-the wipers l0 and 11 have pressed the lasting margin 8 against the insole l to attach the lasting margin 8 to the insole at this point.

After the attaching of the lasting margin by the wipers 10 and 11, the step of ball and shank lasting begins as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. For this step, the two rollers 18 and 19 are provided, they also being provided with a helical land. The rollers are mounted on axes 20 and 21, and are driven by pulleys 22 and 23 in a manner not shown. This drive is effected in such a way that under the effect of the helical lands the lasting margin 2 is drawn toward the middle of the shoe while the rollers 18 and 19 exert pressure from above upon the lasting margin, thereby pressing the latter against the cement strip 8. The cement strip 8 extends so far that, on the one hand the attaching of lasting margin 2 can take place by means of the wipers l0 and 11, as described by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, while on the other hand, with the first engagement of rollers 18 and I9 likewise can press the lasting margin 2 against the cement strip 8. The still molten cement strip 8 is also drawn somewhat farther into the shank zone with the travelling of the rollers 18 and 19 toward the shank. This is necessary with the embodiment shown since cement nozzles 24 and 25 are arranged heelward of the rollers 18 and 19 to extrude cement so that the attaching of the lasting margin 2 to the insole 1 proceeds continuously. As a result of the above-mentioned length of the cement strip 8 being extended in the direction of the shank zone, a gap-free transition of cementing and attaching is brought about, from the cement strip 8 to the cement applied by the cement nozzles 24 and 25. The cement nozzles 24 and 25 are formed at the ends of feed tubes 26 and 27, each extending from blocks 28 and 29 which also forms mountings for the axes 20 and 21. The operation of the rollers 18 and 19 can also be seen from FIG. 5. It may be seen that the roller pressure against the lasting margin 2 is taken up by pads 30 and 31 which rest laterally upon the last 32. The pads 30 and 31 are moved in from the side by a fluid activated mechanism 33 of common construction.

As soon as the rollers 18 and 19 have moved far enough toward the heel of the shoe, the wipers 3 and 4 wipe in and thus complete the lasting in the zone of the toe. The heel ends of the wipers also wipe over for a short distance beyond the zone which has previously been lasted by the rollers 18 and 19 at the beginning of their operation. The rollers 18 and 19 at the same time continue their lasting operation toward the heel and complete the lasting of the whole zone of the ball and the shank.

The operations described above follow each other so quickly in their sequence that a continuous transition takes place, and a prime consideration is also that the coat of cement 8 in the zone of the toe still retains its full tenacity until the wiper components 3 and 4 finally wipe in. It is to be noted in this regard that the cement used for the cement application 8 and for the lasting operation with the rollers 18 and 19 preferably is a hotmelt cement that hardens relatively quickly. The rapid sequence of operations employed in the method according to the invention make it possible, however, for the attaching of the lasting margin 2 by the wipers l0 and 11 to follow so quickly after the applying of the cement strip 8, to be followed then by the start of the processing by the rollers 18 and 19, that the wiper compo nents 3 and 4 can 'still wipe in before the cement of cement strip 8 hardens.

In order that the wipers 10 and 11 can exert a reliable pressure and thereby a pull in the direction of the toepoint of the shoe, they are flattened onthe side turned toward the insole 1 (this flattening not shown in the drawings) and can sweep out slightly obliquely in the direction of the tow of the shoe. The pull on the lasting margin 2 in the direction of the toe is desired because the upstanding lasting margin usually has some tendency to fall down, and this can be compensated for by the oblique alignment of the wipers l0 and 11. This obliquity, likewise, is not clearly shown in the drawings.

Having thus described our invention by way of a preferred embodiment it should be understood that a variety of substitute mechanisms may be used to carry out the inventivemethod without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for the combined uninterrupted lasting of the toe, ball and shank areas of shoes including: means for applying a strip of cement to the bottom of a shoe around the toe end and extending heelward at least as far as the ball area of the shoe; means for folding and pressing limited portions of the shoe upper margin at opposite sides against the strip of cement near the heelward ends of the strip; means for progressively lasting the upper margin heelward from said limited portions; and lasting the forepart of the shoe as soon as the progressive lasting means has moved to non-interferring locations.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the fold ing and pressing means includes a rod at opposite sides of the ball area of the shoe and means for rapidly moving the rods toward and away from the shoe to fold and attach said limited portions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the progressive lasting means include helically landed rotatable rollers engageable with said limited areas and movable heelwardly while rotating and maintaining pressing engagement with the upper margin for progressively urging the upper margins inward at opposite sides of the shoe and for progressively folding and pressing said margins against the shoe bottom.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the progressive lasting means also includes nozzles for applying strips of cement to the shoe bottom from the heelward ends of the cement strip around the forepart progressively heelward in advance of the operation of said lasting means. 

1. Apparatus for the combined uninterrupted lasting of the toe, ball and shank areas of shoes including: means for applying a strip of cement to the bottom of a shoe around the toe end and extending heelward at least as far as the ball area of the shoe; means for folding and pressing limited portions of the shoe upper margin at opposite sides against the strip of cement near the heelward ends of the strip; means for progressively lasting the upper margin heelward from said limited portions; and lasting the forepart of the shoe as soon as the progressive lasting means has moved to non-interferring locations.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the folding and pressing means includes a rod at opposite sides of the ball area of the shoe and means for rapidly moving the rods toward and away from the shoe to fold and attach said limited portions.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the progressive lasting means include helically landed rotatable rollers engageable with said limited areas and movable heelwardly while rotating and maintaining pressing engagement with the upper margin for progressively urging the upper margins inward at opposite sides of the shoe and for progressively folding and pressing said margins against the shoe bottom.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the progressive lasting means also includes nozzles for applying strips of cement to the shoe bottom from the heelward ends of the cement strip around the forepart progressively heelward in advance of the operation of said lasting means. 